Every cloud has a silver lining...

If you look up and see these clouds, commonly known as Mackerel, be warned, there is a change of weather within hours. I love seeing these. My favourite book as a child was 365 Rainy Day Activities I still have it and look forward to opening it up at this tie of year. No point getting miserable about the weather, embrace it!

Summer did zip by this year, I hardly feel like I dipped my toe in it, but now it's time for Autumn and all of the wonderful things it brings. The hard top goes back on the car and last year's boots will be dug out until the shops get their new ranges out, salads are relegated to side dishes and leg waxing appointments get farther apart.

One of the best things is sleeping without aircon and having fresh air instead but in waking hours, it is now justifiable to lock yourself in and create things or:

Go to a restaurant without a view / al fresco dining. They have to rely on their food and ambiance and are generally better. Favourites of mine are Assaggi in Dean Hamlet, Del Borgo in Birgu, Spezzo and Da Pippo in Valletta, Etiennes in Attard, Chapter One or Profumo Di in St Julians....

Play dress up. Get a stack of glossy magazines and pour over them to build your new season's look, then jump online or take advantage of a break in the weather, and shop! No more sticky skin or swollen feet while trying on for a few months now.

Fill your trolley up and spend the afternoon experimenting in the kitchen. I have pages and pages of recipes to try out for Sunday lunch season.....

Go for a walk and not need a shower before you've taken 10 paces. Collect dead wood for the fire, pick wild herbs for stews, play tig.....

Update your bucket list, draft your letter to Santa ..... and last but not least, join The Cloud Appreciation Society .